Enjoy Summer with our Best Wines, Brews and Spirits

By Anonymous (not verified) on May 23, 2017

Photo: Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery

You probably stopped at one of our local wineries, breweries or cideries on your way to a tailgate last season, but this is a brand new year. Check out our ever-expanding list of breweries, wineries and distilleries where you can enjoy locally sourced, expertly crafted drinks.

The next time you’re here, forego the state store or beer distributor and make a stop at one of these local spots for a drink instead. You’ll be really glad you did!

WINES

A veteran of its craft, the family-owned Mount Nittany Winery has been a beloved name in Happy Valley for decades. Tailgate Red is the #1 classic here, but of course there’s something for every taste. The breathtaking view from the winery’s mountainside location makes a trip here that much better.

Don't Miss: Ongoing fun events at their gorgeous winery! See mtnittanywinery.com for more details.

Every one of Seven Mountains’ wide variety of wines is outstanding. Their inventory of sweet wines in particular is a sight to behold, going way beyond just your basic fruit varieties with flavors that include butter rum, rhubarb, grapefruit, cotton candy, and even espresso beans.

Don't Miss: Their wine club. Enjoy quarterly shipments of three bottles of wine shipped directly to your doorstep, or you may choose to come pick it up and enjoy their pick-up parties. Club purchases make great gifts for any wine lovers you may know as well. Contact Tracy for more details.

With over 13 different types of grapes grown in its vineyard, it’s no wonder that Happy Valley Winery produces such a wide variety of great wines. Price points range from very affordable—like the best-selling semi-sweet Appalachia Red—to premium selections, like the award-winning Vidal Blanc Ice White.

Don't Miss: Check out their Wine and Cafe on the Park in downtown Bellefonte! Enjoy their beautifully crafted wines with appetizers, lunch or light dinner.

BREWS

Beer and wine tours have become wildly popular for a reason. What other way is there to taste so many of an area’s best local beverages without having to do any of the leg work? Happy Valley Hotels’ tours include a full day of tastings and meals, an overnight stay, plus an amazing welcome basket full of gift cards. Choose from the latest “Hop around Happy Valley” brew tour or the “Wine on your own time” wine tour. What better way to ditch the same old, same old?

If craft brewing is an art, then Otto's beers are a masterpiece. Their arsenal includes everything from classic ales and lagers to a coffee stout, and the absolutely sensational Apricot Wheat. You can get any of Otto’s brews on draft, or purchase some of the best-selling flavors in six packs, cases and kegs.

Both the diversity and flavors of Happy Valley Brewing Company’s selection are excellent. The popular Tailgater pale ale is a choice you can’t go wrong with, but don’t be afraid to try a more adventurous brew like the Stratus Loftbier or seasonal mint chocolate chip stout.

If you’re looking for a porter, a stout, a lager or a wheat beer – and everything in between – Robin Hood Brewing Company is the place for you. And even if your significant other isn’t quite the craft beer and hops lover, they are sure to enjoy a Blueboary Wheat or an Alan-A-Dale Apple Ale from Robin Hood Brewing Company.

SPIRITS

Locally sourced ingredients and a German-built still combine to make Barrel 21’s top quality liquors. Their current lineup of spirits includes gin, vodka, light rum, spiced rum, white rye, the phenomenal Apple Eau de Vie fruit brandy, and a brand new Limoncello liquer. With a tasting room, bottle and gift shop, and bookings for tours and events, Barrel 21 is the total package.

The water of Bellefonte’s Big Spring—named Pennsylvania’s Best Tasting Water by the Pennsylvania Rural Water Association—is the base of every product at Big Spring Spirits, and it makes all the difference. Their inventory includes vodka, gin, cream bourbon, and several varieties of rum and whiskey. Each one is exquisite.

Can't decide where to start? You can try all of these spots and more on the Central PA Tasting Trail! See the map and start your adventure.

We love to eat and drink locally and have made it pretty easy for you to decide what to sample your next time in town. From favorite foods to brand new beers to your favorite haunts from college days … find it all HERE.